A Crown of Glory: Rethinking Aging Through God’s Eyes
Key Passage: Your beauty should not come from outward adornment . . . Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
(1 Peter 3:3-4; emphasis added)
Key Message: Our worth, beauty, and purpose do not fade with age—in Christ, they deepen and grow into lasting glory.
My birthday fell on Good Friday last week, so my focus this year wasn’t on me—and that, my friends, is spiritual growth!
Two years ago, when I turned 60, I was not in a good place mentally. Two thoughts consumed me: The best years of my life are behind me, and I’ve wasted so much time. Neither of those thoughts reflected gratitude or truth, but I couldn’t seem to shake them.
My friends and family knew I was struggling—largely because I whined about it for weeks leading up to that milestone birthday. God, in His faithfulness, heard my laments and the prayers of those who love me and sent me a “birthday angel.”
The day before my 60th birthday, two friends took me to lunch. While we were sitting on the patio discussing Bible study plans, a petite, energetic mature woman approached our table and enthusiastically declared Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made.” We responded together, “Let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
She was celebrating her own milestone birthday. Wearing a tiara and a sash that read “90 and fabulous,” this woman radiated joy. Her love for God was unmistakable. After chatting with us briefly (and posing with me in the pic above), she moved from table to table, sharing encouragement, laughter, and the gospel with everyone she encountered.
By the time she returned to her own table, the patio diners had been lifted by her presence. Can you imagine how many lives this woman has touched in her lifetime? If those few minutes of interaction were any indication, I’m sure there is an army of her recruits on earth and in heaven.
God used that moment to give me an instant attitude adjustment and new perspective. The 90-year-old birthday “girl” wasn’t focused on her age—she was focused on her Savior.
That encounter deeply impacted me. I realized how much I was focused on outward things—aging, fading beauty, and a growing sense of irrelevance. Gray hair, wrinkles, changing bodies are realities as we grow older. But even harder than the physical challenges (for me anyway) is the feeling that we somehow matter less as we age, that we become irrelevant and invisible
Those thoughts do not come from God. The world—and the Enemy—try to convince us that our worth declines over time. When we believe those lies, we begin to place value on things that were never meant to define us.
My birthday angel reminded me of a greater truth: in God’s eyes, our worth never fades. In fact, as we follow Him, we grow in glory. Scripture tells us, “We…are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
If given the choice, I will gladly accept the aches and growing pains that come with age if it means radiating a glory that will never fade.
Aging comes with gifts—wisdom, maturity, discernment, and a deeper understanding of what truly matters.
It often also brings freedom from worrying about others’ opinions and a stronger confidence in our faith.
As Peter reminds us, true beauty radiates from the inside out. We are not to worry about our physical appearance, “the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.” Instead, we are to clothe ourselves “with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God (1 Peter 3:3–4)
We are called to be different—to find our identity, value, and beauty in Christ alone. In His eyes, we are radiant, glorious, and deeply loved.
In my current “senior” season, I am learning to appreciate the “wisdom spots,” wrinkles, and even the age-related health issues and embrace my sixties with gratitude and grace. Though I haven’t quite surrendered to the grey hair yet, I know it’s there under the root tint my stylist applies each month, so I will still proudly claim Proverbs 16:31:
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”
Whatever your age or stage, use it for God’s glory and good. If you’re older, invest in someone younger by mentoring them in their walk with Jesus. If you’re younger, seek wisdom and guidance from someone ahead of you. And ask God to open your eyes to the “angels” He places in your path. Better yet, be an angel spreading the love and grace of Jesus to everyone you encounter.
Prayer
Lord, help me to let go of the world’s standard of beauty and youth and help me to age gracefully and embrace the way You see me—radiant, glorious, and deeply loved. Place younger women in my life who I can share my spiritual wisdom with, as well as older women who can guide me and prepare me for the future. Give me opportunities to be an angel to others, shining your light into their lives and sharing Your crowning glory.
Amen.
Reflection & Application
What do you struggle with most about the aging process?
Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Have you ever mentored younger women? What was the experience like?
Do you have an “angel” in your life who reflects radiant beauty from the inside out? What lessons can you learn from her? (Be sure to also let her know the impact she has had on your life.)